Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Dusty Pink Suerte’

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Dusty Pink Suerte’, characterized by its daisy-type inflorescences that are about 7.7 cm in diameter; attractive soft pink ray and bright yellow disc florets; very freely flowering habit with numerous inflorescences per stem; response time about 67 days; dark green foliage; strong stems; long peduncles; and good postproduction longevity with inflorescences maintaining good substance and color for at least four weeks in an interior environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dusty Pink Suerte’.

The new Chrysanthemum was discovered by the Inventor in a controlledenvironment in Madrid, Cundinamarca, Columbia in June, 1998, as anaturally-occurring mutation of the Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivarSuerte, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,225. The new Chrysanthemumwas observed as a single plant in a group of flowering plants of theparent cultivar. The selection of this plant was based on its differentray floret color.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminal cuttings takenin a controlled environment in Madrid, Cundinamarca, Colombia, has shownthat the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum are stable andreproducted true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Dusty Pink Suerte has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Dusty Pink Suerte’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dusty Pink Suerte’ as a newand distinct cultivar:

1. Large daisy-type inflorescences that are about 7.7 cm in diameter.

2. Attractive soft pink-colored ray florets and bright yellow-coloreddisc florets.

3. Very freely flowering with numerous inflorescences per stem.

4. Response time is about 67 days.

5. Dark green foliage.

6. Strong and thick stems.

7. Long peduncles.

8. Good postproduction longevity with inflorescences maintaining goodsubstance and color for at least four weeks in an interior environment.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the cultivarSuerte primarily in ray floret color as plants of the cultivar Suertehave dark pink/purple-colored ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Chrysanthemum, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Chrysanthemum.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering stem of ‘Dusty Pink Suerte’ grown as a spray-type cutChrysanthemum.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a close-up view of typicalinflorescences of ‘Dusty Pink Suerte’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe plants grown in Madrid, Cundinamarca,Colombia, under conditions which approximate commercial practice in asingle-layer polyethlene-covered greenhouse. Two-week old rootedcuttings were planted on Dec. 7, 1999 and received 14 long day/shortnights followed by short day/long nights until flowering. Plants weregrown as single-stem cut chrysanthemums. During the production time, thefollowing environmental conditons were measured: day temperatures, 19 to24° C.; night temperatures, 4 to 12° C.; and light levels, 3,000 to5,000 foot-candles. Measurements and numerical values represent averagesfor six to ten typical flowering stems.

Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Dusty PinkSuerte.

Commercial classification: Daisy spray-type cut Chrysanthemum.

Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation ofChrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Suerte, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.No. 10,225.

Propagation:

Type.—Terminal tip cuttings.

Time to rooting.—About seven to ten days with soil temperatures of 21°C.

Root description.—Fine, fibrous and well-branched.

Plant description:

Appearance.—Herbaceous daisy spray-type cut flower.

Flowering stem description.—Aspect: Erect. Length: About 101.6 cm.Diameter: About 7 mm. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 146A.

Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate. Length: About 10.4 cm.Width: About 5.6 cm. Apex: Cuspidate. Base: Mostly truncate. Margin:Palmately lobed; sinuses mostly parallel, occasionally convergent ordivergent. Texture: Upper and lower surfaces pubescent. Veins prominenton lower surface. Color: Young foliage upper surface: Darker than 147A.Young foliage lower surface: Darker than 147B. Mature foliage uppersurface: Darker than 147A; venation, 147B. Mature foliage lower surface:Close to 147B; venation, close to 147B. Petiole: Length: About 2.1 cm.Diameter: About 5 mm. Color: Close to 147B.

Flowering description:

Appearance.—Daisy spray-type inflorescence form with elongatedoblong-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on terminals, arisingfrom leaf axils. Disc and ray florets arranged acropetally on acapitulum.

Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plants flower in theautumn/winter in the Northern Hermisphere. At other times of the year,inflorescence initiation and development can be induced under shortday/long night conditions (at least 13.5 hours of darkness). Plantsexposed to two weeks of long day/short night conditions after plantingfollowed by photoinductive short day/long night condtions flower about67 days later.

Postproduction longevity.—In an interior environment, flowering stemswill maintain good color and substance for at least four weeks in aninterior environment after one week of cool storage.

Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering with about 10inflorescences per flowering stem.

Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 7.7 cm. Depth (height): About 2.9cm. Diameter of disc: About 1.9 cm. Diameter of receptacle: About 8 mm.

Ray florets.—Shape: Elongated oblong. Length: About 4.3 cm. Width: About1.1 cm. Apex: Mamillate or emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.Texture: Smooth, satiny, glabrous; longitudinally ridged. Aspect:Initially concave becoming mostly flat with subsequent development.Orientation: Initially upright; when mature, about 60 to 65° fromvertical. Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About 93 arranged inabout five rows. Color: When opening, upper surface: Initially, 65A to65B, then close to 69A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 69A to69B. Mature, upper surface: Close to 69A; fading to 69B with subsequentdevelopment. Mature, lower surface: Close to 69A to 69C.

Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular, flared at apex. Length: About 8 mm. Width:Apex: About 2.5 mm. Base: About 1 mm. Number of disc florets perinflorescence: Numerous, typically about 134. Color: Immature: 144A.Mature: Apex: 9A. Mid-section: Close to 154A. Base: 155D.

Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Angled about 45° from vertical.Length: First peduncle: About 15.6 cm. Fourth peduncle: About 21.6 cm.Seventh peduncle: About 26.1 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture: Veryfine pubescence. Color: 146A.

Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets only. Anthercolor: 9A. Amount of pollen: Scarce to moderate. Color: 14A. Gynoecium:Present on both ray and disc florets.

Seed.—Seed production has not been observed.

Disease resistance: Resistance to pathogens common to Chrysanthemums hasnot been observed on plants grown under commercial conditions.

Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have demonstratedgood tolerance to night temperatures as low as 5° C. and daytemperatures as high as 40° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plantnamed ‘Dusty Pink Suerte’, as illustrated and described.